Authors R-Z

Dominique RaccahDominique Raccah is the founder of Sourcebooks, where she serves as publisher and CEO.

Lori Rader-DayLori Rader-Day is the author of the “The Black Hour.” Her fiction has appeared in Ellery Queen Mystery Magazine, Good Housekeeping, Time Out Chicago and others. She is a member of Mystery Writers of America, Sisters in Crime and International Thriller Writers. She lives in Chicago.

Ron RapoportRon Rapoport was a sports columnist for the Chicago Sun-Times and a sports commentator on NPR’s “Weekend Edition Saturday.” His most recent book is “From Black Sox to Three-Peats.”

Lynne RaimondoLynne Raimondo is the author of “Dante’s Wood” and “Dante’s Poison.” Before turning to writing, she was the general counsel of Arthur Andersen LLP and the general counsel of the Illinois Department of Revenue.

Barbara RansbyBarbara Ransby is a professor at the University of Illinois at Chicago, a writer and longtime activist. She is author of an award-winning biography of Ella Baker, and her newest book is “Eslanda: The Large and Unconventional Life of Mrs. Paul Robeson.” She is editor of Souls, a journal of black politics and culture.

Chris RaschkaChris Raschka is the author and illustrator of the Thingy Things children's book series. He has published over 60 children’s books, including the 2012 Caldecott Medal winner “A Ball for Daisy” and the 2006 Caldecott Medal winner “The Hello, Goodbye Window” by Norton Juster. He lives in New York.

Anne K. ReamAnne K. Ream is the author of “Lived Through This,” a collection of narrative and photographic profiles of gender-related violence survivors. The co-founder of “The Stories We Tell,” her writing has appeared in the Los Angeles Times, Washington Post, “The Cambridge Companion to Bob Dylan” and others.

Abbie ReeseAbbie Reese is an independent scholar and interdisciplinary artist, and author of “Dedicated to God: An Oral History of Cloistered Nuns”. She received an MFA from the University of Chicago and was a fellow at Columbia University’s Oral History Research Office Summer Institute.

Howard ReichHoward Reich has covered music for the Tribune since 1977. He is the author of “Prisoner of Her Past” and the writer-producer-narrator of the PBS documentary film of the same name. He is also the author of “Let Freedom Swing,” “Van Cliburn” and “Jelly’s Blues,” which he co-authored with William Gaines.

Aaron ReynoldsAaron Reynolds is a bestselling author of many highly acclaimed books for kids, including “Here Comes Destructosaurus!,” “Carnivores,” and the Caldecott Honor-winning “Creepy Carrots!” He frequently visits schools, where his presentations are a blast for kids. aaron-reynolds.com

Luanne RiceLuanne Rice is the author of 31 novels including many New York Times best-sellers. Five of her books have been made into movies and mini-series, and her work has been featured in several theatrical productions. She divides her time between New York City and the Connecticut shoreline.

Elizabeth RichterElizabeth Richter is a board member of Green City Market, and president of The Richter Group, a strategic marketing/communications consulting firm. She serves on the advisory board of the University of Chicago's Graham School and the Rush University Medical Center Woman’s Board. She lives with her husband in Chicago.

Martha Cecilia RiveraMartha Cecilia Rivera is a Colombian poet and narrator who lives in Chicago. She is the author of the novel “Ghosts for Long Nights.” Her novel “The Death of the Chicken” and a volume of short stories titled “Opera of a Man Who Sought” are forthcoming.

Justin RobertsGrammy-nominated Justin Roberts & the Not Ready for Naptime Players are among the all-stars of the indie family music scene. Roberts’ children’s book “The Smallest Girl in the Smallest Grade” will be published in the fall with illustrations by Christian Robinson.

Kimberla Lawson RobyKimberla Lawson Roby is the author of “The Prodigal Son.” She is a 2013 NAACP Image Award Winner for Outstanding Literary Work in fiction. She lives in Illinois with her husband, Will.

Tony RomanoTony Romano is the author of “When the World Was Young” and the story collection “If You Eat, You Never Die.”

Kathleen RooneyKathleen Rooney is the author of “O, Democracy!” She also is a founding editor of Rose Metal Press and founding member of Poems While You Wait. A winner of the Ruth Lilly Fellowship from Poetry magazine, she is the author of six books of poetry and nonfiction. She lives in Chicago.

Renee RosenRenee Rosen is the author of “Every Crooked Pot,” a young adult novel. “Dollface: A Novel of the Roaring Twenties” is her first adult work of fiction. She lives in Chicago and is at work on a new novel.

Gayle RosengrenGayle Rosengren was born in Chicago and lives in Wisconsin, where she writes full time. Her debut novel, a middle grade historical fiction book entitled “What the Moon Said,” was published in February and is a Junior Library Guild Selection.

Amy Krouse RosenthalAmy Krouse Rosenthal is the author of books for both children and adults. Some of her books include “Little Pea,” “Exclamation Mark,” “Spoon” and “Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life.” She also makes keepsake journals and films.

Amy RowlandAmy Rowland is the author of the novel “The Transcriptionist.” She has spent more than a decade at the New York Times, where she worked as a transcriptionist before moving to the Book Review, where she works as an editor. She lives in New York City.

Adam RubinAdam Rubin is the award-winning author behind the “Those Darn Squirrels!” books and the New York Times best-selling “Dragons Love Tacos.” Rubin lives in New York City and works as a creative director for a multimedia agency.

Ingrid SagorIngrid Sagor is an M.F.A. candidate in nonfiction at Columbia College Chicago. Her work has been published in Jeopardy, Labyrinth, Free Verse and The Everett Herald. Her artist books have exhibited at Word 6: An Architecture of Multi-Modal Poetry/Text and The Galley.

Marcus Sakey

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cin salachcin salach is the founder of poemgrown, an IAC recipient, Ragdale fellow and Emmy nominee for her on-screen narration of the PBS documentary “Schoolboy to Showgirl.” She is the author of “Looking for a Soft Place to Land” and “When I Am Yes.”

Hugo SalcedoHugo Salcedo is a Flamenco guitarist who has studied extensively in Spain on various occasions. With David Chiriboga, he currently focuses on performing many of the lighter styles within Flamenco, such as Bulerias, Alegrias and Rumbas.

Kristin SamuelsonKristin Samuelson, managing editor of RedEye, began her career at WGN Radio as an intern for the Spike O'Dell show and joined the Tribune in 2006 as editorial board coordinator. She has worked with Problem Solver Jon Yates, the Tribune's business section and the Tribune video team before joining RedEye.

Arturo SantamariaArturo Santamaria is a professor at the Universidad Autónoma de Sinaloa in Mazatlán, Mexico, and the author of several books, including “Of Carnaval, Queens and Narcos” and “The Bosses of Narco: The Rise of Women in Organized Crime.”

Bill SavageBill Savage teaches Chicago literature, history and culture at Northwestern University. He recently co-edited and annotated “Chicago by Day and Night: The Pleasure-Seeker’s Guide to the Paris of America.” He regularly reviews books for the Tribune, and writes for a variety of local publications.

Kodi ScheerKodi Scheer is the author of the story collection “Incendiary Girls,” which published in the spring. She teaches writing at the University of Michigan. Her stories have appeared in the Chicago Tribune, the Iowa Review and other publications.

Mary SchmichMary Schmich is a 2012 Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist who has written for the Chicago Tribune since 1985. A collection of her columns, “Even the Terrible Things Seem Beautiful to Me Now” is available in print and as an e-book. She also wrote the long-lived “Brenda Starr” comic strip, which ended its run in 2011.

Nara SchoenbergAs a features reporter for the Chicago Tribune, Nara Schoenberg has written about relationships, books, pop culture and the arts. Her stories have appeared in the Los Angeles Times, the Baltimore Sun and the (London) Independent. She lives in Oak Park.

Jordan Monroe SchultzJordan Monroe Schultz is the web editor at RedEye, a sibling of the Chicago Tribune. He is an alumnus of Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism, University of Chicago’s Harris School of Public Policy and Boston College.

ScribbleMonsterScribbleMonster is comprised of five veteran Chicago-area performers with a combined 15 children and a history of creating, teaching and performing music, comedy and theater. In addition to Jim Dague’s guitar and vocals, the band’s lineup includes the vocal assistance of Jayne Saniat and Joyce Stuart.

Joe SegalOne of the most enduring impresarios in the country, Joe Segal has been presenting jazz in Chicago since 1947, when he was a student at Roosevelt University. That institution recently awarded him an honorary doctorate. As founder of the Jazz Showcase, Segal has presented uncounted legends, including Charlie Parker.

Doug SeiboldDoug Seibold founded Agate Publishing in 2003. In 2005, he created Agate Development, which creates digitally developed content for large education publishers, universities and other organizations. In 2012, Agate established a partnership with the Chicago Tribune to publish e-books created from Tribune content under its Agate Digital imprint.

Elliott SerranoElliott Serrano is RedEye’s “Geek To Me” columnist and blogger. He is also a professional comic book writer, having spent the last year working on “Army of Darkness.”

Stuart SheaStuart Shea is the author of “Wrigley Field: The Long Life and Contentious Times of the Friendly Confines,” as well as an editor of the Baseball Encyclopedia, the Emerald Guide to Baseball and SABR’s Baseball Research Journal. He lives in Chicago, 24 blocks north of Wrigley Field.

Matthew ShenodaMatthew Shenoda is the author of the poetry collections “Somewhere Else,” “Seasons of Lotus, Seasons of Bone” and the forthcoming “Tahrir Suite.” He is an associate professor of creative writing at Columbia College Chicago.

Bruce ShermanThis participant has cancelled.Bruce Sherman has been cooking at Chicago’s North Pond restaurant for over 15 years. He was named a Food & Wine best new chef in 2003, won the James Beard Foundation award for best chef, Great Lakes 2012, and received a Michelin Star in 2013.

Ed ShermanEd Sherman is the author of “Babe Ruth’s Called Shot: The Myth and Mystery of Baseball’s Greatest Home Run.” He covered sports for the Tribune for 27 years, is a current Tribune contributor, and writes about sports media at ShermanReport.com.

Peggy ShinnerPeggy Shinner is the author of “You Feel So Mortal: Essays on the Body.” A lifelong Chicagoan, she teaches in the MFA in creative writing program at Northwestern University.

Liesl ShurtliffLiesl Shurtliff is the author of “Rump: The True Story of Rumpelstiltskin,” an ABC Best Children’s Book of 2013 and a Texas Bluebonnet Master List selection for 2014-15. She lives with her family in Chicago. lieslshurtliff.com @LieslShurtliff

Eric SirotaEric Sirota is a performance poet and the emcee for The Nocturnals, who recently released the “7 Sins” mixtape, available for free at nocturnalsmusic.com. Eric represented Chicago at the 2013 Individual World Poetry Slam. He is a lawyer.

Patricia SkalkaPatricia Skalka is the author of “Death Stalks Door County.” A former Reader's Digest staff writer and lifelong Chicagoan, she has worked as a magazine editor, ghost writer and writing instructor. Her novel introduces the Dave Cubiak Door County Mysteries series. patriciaskalka.com

Brett SlezakBrett Slezak is a returned Peace Corps volunteer and an M.F.A. candidate in creative nonfiction writing at Columbia College Chicago. He is an assistant editor of South Loop Review, and his writing has appeared in The Doctor T.J. Eckleburg Review, Defunct, Columbia Poetry Review and Ghost Proposal.

Mario SmithChicago poet, educator, activist and radio chat show host Mario Smith has been performing in the Chicagoland area and the U.S. for more than 20 years. He has written essays for WBEZ, Voice of America and provided 2008 election night analysis for BBC Devon.

Patricia SmithChicago native Patricia Smith is the author of “Shoulda Been Jimi Savannah,” winner of the 2013 Lenore Marshall Poetry Prize, and “Blood Dazzler,” a finalist for the National Book Award. A 2014 Guggenheim Fellow in Poetry, she is also a four-time National Poetry Slam champion, the most successful competitor in slam history.

Rachel Louise SnyderRachel Louise Snyder is the author of the novel “What We’ve Lost is Nothing” and the nonfiction book “Fugitive Denim.” She has contributed to the New Yorker, the New York Times magazine, This American Life, All Things Considered and many others. Originally from Chicago, she now lives in Washington, DC.

R. Clifton SpargoR. Clifton Spargo is the author of “Beautiful Fools; The Last Affair of Zelda and Scott Fitzgerald” and co-creator of The Voices and Faces Project’s testimonial writing workshop. A graduate of the Iowa Writers’ Workshop, he is a visiting writer at the University of Iowa. beautifulfoolsthenovel.com

Bill St. JohnBill St. John has written and taught about wine for more than 40 years. He writes for the Chicago Tribune , teaches at his wine school, St. John on Wine, and lectures on history, food, wine, religion and public policy at the University of Chicago Graham School.

Tim StaffordTim Stafford is a poet and public school teacher from Lyons. He is a former Chicago Poetry Slam champion, and his work has appeared on Def Poetry Jam and at festivals in Germany, Switzerland, Sweden and Denmark. He is the editor of the anthology series “Learn Then Burn.”

Scott StantisInternationally syndicated, award-winning cartoonist Scott Stantis is the editorial cartoonist for the Chicago Tribune and creator of the comic strip “Prickly City.” He lives in Chicago.

Mavis StaplesMavis Staples is a Rock and Roll Hall of Famer, a Grammy Lifetime Achievement Award winner and a National Heritage Fellowship Award recipient. “One True Vine” is her most recent album, and she is the subject of the book “I’ll Take You There: Mavis Staples, the Staple Singers, and the March up Freedom’s Highway,” by Chicago Tribune music critic Greg Kot.

Lisa SteinkeLisa Steinke and Liz Fenton have been best friends for 25 years and survived high school and college together. Their debut novel is “Your Perfect Life.” lizandlisa.com

Megan StielstraMegan Stielstra is the author of the essay collection “Once I Was Cool.” Her work was included in “The Best American Essays 2013,” and her story collection “Everyone Remain Calm” was a Chicago Tribune favorite of 2011. She’s the literary director at the storytelling series 2nd Story and teaches creative writing at Columbia College Chicago.

Stomp and Shout ChicagoStomp and Shout Chicago offers creative music and theater classes for kids and parents. Their programming offers an alternative to the traditional arts class and reflects and celebrates the lives of children growing up today. StompAndShoutChicago.com

Geoffrey R. StoneGeoffrey R. Stone is the Edward H. Levi Distinguished Service Professor of Law at the University of Chicago, where he has served as provost and as dean of the Law School. He specializes in constitutional law and is currently writing a book titled “Sexing the Constitution.”

Lauren StreicherDr. Lauren Streicher is the author of “Love Sex Again.” She is an associate clinical professor of obstetrics and gynecology at Northwestern University’s Feinberg School of Medicine, and she dedicates her time to educating women through consumer publications, media and appearances.

Nicole SuarezNicole Suarez, a Chicago native of Colombian roots, first gained recognition through her participation in Univision's “Nuestra Belleza Latina.” Her passion for news led to her current position as anchor for Hoy Noticias Mundo Fox 13.

Todd SummarTodd Summar is a master’s candidate in fiction writing at Columbia College Chicago. He is an assistant coordinator for Story Week, and the editor-in-chief of Goreyesque, an online journal featuring work inspired by Edward Gorey. His work is forthcoming in PANK Magazine.

Daniel SullivanDan “Sully” Sullivan is the founder of the Urban Sandbox and has appeared on HBO’s “Def Poetry,” WGN News and NPR. He is recipient of the Gwendolyn Brooks Open Mic Poetry Award and a member of Marc Smith’s Speak’Easy Ensemble. “The Blue Line Home” is his first collection of poems.

J. Courtney SullivanJ. Courtney Sullivan is author of the novels “Commencement,” “Maine” and “The Engagements,” which was one of People magazine’s Top Ten Books of 2013. She lives in Brooklyn in New York.

Amy SumpterAmy Sumpter is a comedic actress who can be seen on Rooftop Comedy and Beast Women. She is also in an all-female Beastie Boys tribute band, She’s Crafty. amysumpter.com

Mick SwaskoMick Swasko is a reporter for RedEye, covering digital trends and the web. He lives in Roscoe Village with his wife, Kristen. @swasko

Rachel SwitallRachel Switall is the founder and publisher of StudentsXpress magazine for Chicago Public School students through 8th grade. It showcases student art and writing to promote creativity and literacy, encourage alternative expressions, and create positive self-esteem and open discussions.

Elizabeth TaylorElizabeth Taylor is the literary editor of the Chicago Tribune. She has been president of the National Book Critics Circle and chaired several Pulitzer Prize juries. She is the co-author of “American Pharaoh: Mayor Richard J. Daley, His Battle for Chicago and the Nation” with Adam Cohen.

Paul TaylorPaul Taylor is the author of “The Next America: Boomers, Millennials and the Looming Generational Showdown.” For the past decade, he has overseen research on demographic, social and generational trends at the Pew Research Center. He is a former political reporter and foreign correspondent for the Washington Post.

Robbie Q. TelferRobbie Q. Telfer is the co-founder of The Encyclopedia Show, a live literary variety show. For six years he worked at Young Chicago Authors, where he organized the world’s largest teen poetry festival, Louder Than a Bomb. He’s a poet-in-residence in the Poetry Center of Chicago’s Hands on Stanzas program.

Frank TemponeFrank Tempone is a writer and teacher at the Latin School of Chicago. His work has appeared in Printers Row Journal, McSweeney's Internet Tendency, upstreet, Another Chicago Magazine and 580 Split. He's a blog contributor to The Rumpus.

Cal ThomasCal Thomas is the author of “What Works: Common Sense Solutions for a Stronger America.” One of most widely syndicated columnists in the U.S., he is also a USA Today columnist and a Fox News contributor.

Marlo ThomasMarlo Thomas’ newest book is “It Ain’t Over ...: Reinventing Your Life — and Realizing Your Dreams — Anytime, at Any Age.” Thomas has won four Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, a Golden Globe and a Grammy, and has been inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame for her television work. She is the national outreach director for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital.

Kush ThompsonKush Thompson is a teaching artist for Young Chicago Authors and the author of “A Church Beneath the Bulldozer.” She was previously featured in The John F. Kennedy Center’s “What’s Going On... NOW” project, which paid tribute to Marvin Gaye.

Amy TimberlakeAmy Timberlake is the author of “One Came Home,” which won a Newbery Honor and the Society of Midland Authors Award. She lives in Chicago.

Viktorija TodorovskaViktorija Todorovska runs Oliva Cooking, a cooking, wine and travel company based in Chicago. She studied cooking at the famed Apicius school in Florence. She is the author of The Puglian Cookbook, The Sardinian Cookbook and Provence Food and Wine.

Jacinda TownsendJacinda Townsend is the author of “Saint Monkey.” She is a graduate of Harvard, Duke Law School and the Iowa Writers’ Workshop. A former Fulbright fellow, she teaches at Indiana University and is the mother of two children.

John TrainorJohn Trainor is the publisher and general manager of Hoy, a multiplatform media company within the Chicago Tribune that produces the largest Spanish-language circulating daily newspaper in the U.S. and a nightly newscast on MundoFox. Before joining the Tribune, John was co-founder of Hispanic Solutions LLC. ViveloHoy.com

Dawn Turner TriceDawn Turner Trice is a Chicago Tribune columnist. She also is the author of two novels, “Only Twice I’ve Wished for Heaven” and “An Eighth of August.” In the fall she will begin a year of study as a Nieman Foundation journalism fellow at Harvard University.

Samantha TurnerSamantha Turner is an Evanston native who grew up making music. She has taught fitness and gymnastics to children, coached Special Olympics, and worked in the public school system and as a consultant for families with autistic children. She teaches at the Old Town School of Folk Music.

Luis Alberto UrreaLuis Alberto Urrea is the best-selling author of 15 books, including “The Devil's Highway” (a new 10th anniversary edition), “The Hummingbird's Daughter,” “Into the Beautiful North” and “Queen of America.” He is a professor at the University of Illinois-Chicago. luisurrea.com

James VanOsdolJames VanOsdol has worked on-air and behind-the-scenes at a handful of Chicago radio stations, including Q101 and 93XRT. He has self-published two books, “Off the Record Collection” and “We Appreciate Your Enthusiasm: The Oral History of Q101,” hosts a podcast and curates a music discovery website.

Samuel VegaSamuel Vega is a multimedia producer at Hoy, where he shoots and edits video for Hoy Noticias MundoFOX 13, reports for the Web and is developing new and efficient workflows to enhance the organization’s content strategy across multiple platforms.

Juan F. VillaJuan F. Villa is a Teatro Vista and 16th Street Theater ensemble member. His TV credits include “Betrayal” and “Chicago P.D.” He has appeared on stage at Goodman, Steppenwolf and Victory Gardens. A Chsicago DCASE grant recipient, he is the writer and performer of the national award-winning solo play “Empanada for a Dream.” juanfranciscovilla.com, @juanempanada

John WarnerJohn Warner writes the weekly Biblioracle column for Printers Row Journal and is the author of “The Funny Man.” An editor of McSweeney's Internet Tendency, he is a columnist for Inside Higher Ed. His short story collection “Tough Day for the Army” will be released this fall. @biblioracle

Naomi WasherNaomi Washer is the editor-in-chief of Ghost Proposal and an assistant editor of Hotel Amerika. Her essays, poems and translations have appeared in South Loop Review, St. Petersburg Review and Ampersand Review. Her chapbook “Lessons in Seeing” was a finalist in the 2014 Zoo Cake Press chapbook competition.

Bruce WeberBruce Weber has been a writer and editor for The New York Times since 1986. He is the author, most recently, of “Life Is a Wheel” and “As They See ’Em.”

Lara WeberLara Weber is the events editor for the Chicago Tribune and oversees programming of the Lit Fest. In her long career at the Tribune, she has edited business, sports, national/foreign and lifestyles sections. She was a founding editor of RedEye, and in 2010 she helped launch the editorial events platform.

Jenniffer WeigelJenniffer Weigel is a Chicago Tribune reporter and has been a broadcast journalist in Chicago since 1995. She won an Emmy Award for her on-camera reporting at CBS. She has written three books: “Stay Tuned,” ”I’m Spiritual, Dammit!” and “This Isn’t the Life I Ordered.”

Lindsay WeinbergFueled by music since she was a kid, Lindsay Weinberg fills her days teaching, playing and singing with children. She encourages participation as she plays traditional singalongs and orginal songs.

Sam WellerSam Weller is the biographer of Ray Bradbury. His book, “The Bradbury Chronicles: The Life of Ray Bradbury,” was a best-seller and winner of the 2005 Society of Midland Authors Award. He is the associate chair in the Department of Creative Writing at Columbia College Chicago.

Colson WhiteheadColson Whitehead is the author of “Zone One,” “Sag Harbor,” “The Intuitionist,” “John Henry Days,” “Apex Hides the Hurt” and “The Colossus of New York,” a collection of essays. His latest book is “The Noble Hustle.” A recipient of a Whiting Writers' Award and a MacArthur Fellowship, he lives in New York City.

Danielle WilcoxDanielle Wilcox is a second-year MFA candidate at Columbia College Chicago where she also teaches first-year writing. Her stories have appeared in Goreyesque, Bird's Thumb, and Hair Trigger 36. She is from Michigan.

The Wild FamilyRecently named Deli Magazine’s Best Emerging Chicago Artist of 2013, The Wild Family continues to develop their electrified folk rock sound and dynamic live set since forming in 2012. Their debut EP, released in February, was recorded at Chrome Attic Studios with Jonathan Alvin. wildfamilymusic.bandcamp.com.

Deborah WilesDeborah Wiles is the author of National Book Award Finalist “Each Little Bird That Sings.” Her newest project is called “The Sixties Trilogy: Three Novels of the 1960s for Young Readers.” Book One, “Countdown,” was published in May 2010. Book Two, “Revolution,” was published last month.

John WilkinsonJohn Wilkinson is an English poet who chairs creative writing at the University of Chicago and teaches in the Department of English. His most recent book is “Reckitt's Blue” and his selected poems, “Schedule of Unrest,” will be published by Salt in September 2014.

Beatriz WilliamsA Stanford University honors graduate with an MBA in finance from Columbia, Beatriz Williams lives in Greenwich, Conn., with her husband and children. She is the author of the international best-seller “Overseas” and the New York Times best-seller “A Hundred Summers.”

Jasmine WilsonJasmine Wilson, from Orlando, Fla., is pursuing an M.F.A. in fiction writing at Columbia College Chicago.”

Joycelyn WinneckeJoycelyn Winnecke is vice president and associate editor at the Chicago Tribune. She develops new business ideas for media and journalism. Winnecke’s team is responsible for Blue Sky Innovation, Printers Row Journal and Trib Nation, an engagement program that brings Tribune journalism to life. Winnecke also directs MCT Information Services, a global news content business. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Southern Indiana and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Chicago. Winnecke serves on the boards of the YWCA of Metropolitan Chicago and the Chicago Tribune Foundation, and is active in The Chicago Network.

Latoya WolfeLatoya Wolfe studied fiction writing at Columbia College Chicago. Her work has appeared in African Voices, Chicago Journal, Chicago Reader and Hairtrigger 27. She is the recipient of the Zora Neale Hurston-Bessie Head Fiction Award and winner of the Union League Civic & Arts Foundation Short Story Competition.

Peggy WolffPeggy Wolf spent years as a Hollywood filmmaker and story researcher for documentary specials and late-night comedy. It was her teenage life as a short-order-cook that launched her to write about food, which resulted in newspaper stories and a food anthology, “Fried Walleye and Cherry Pie.”

Nili YelinNili Yelin performs “sit down, stand up” interactive storytelling as The Storybook Mom. She performs weekly around the Chicago area at such places as the Field Museum, Shedd Aquarium, University Club of Chicago, libraries, schools and festivals. She has been called “the best storyteller in these parts” by Time Out Chicago Magazine, and “a local treasure” by Make It Better Magazine. storybookmom.com

Stephen YoungStephen Young began working at Poetry magazine in 1988 and served as senior editor for many years before becoming program director at the Poetry Foundation in 2003. Among other things, he plans public events and runs the Poetry Out Loud National Recitation Contest for high school students.

Owen YoungmanOwen Youngman is a professor and the Knight Chair in digital media strategy at Northwestern University’s Medill School of Journalism. A former Chicago Tribune editor and executive who launched chicagotribune.com and metromix.com, he oversaw the launch of RedEye and brought Printers Row to the Tribune.

Michael ZajakowskiMichael Zajakowski has been a photojournalist, director of photography and photo editor for 30 years. He is the features picture editor for the Chicago Tribune. He also teaches visual communication in the graduate journalism program at DePaul University in Chicago.

Gabrielle ZevinGabrielle Zevin is the author of several novels for adults and young adults, including “Elsewhere,” and most recently, “The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry.” She was the screenwriter of “Conversations with Other Women,” for which she received an Independent Spirit Award nomination. gabriellezevin.com

Andrew ZimmernAndrew Zimmern is a chef, author and three-time James Beard Award winner as host, creator and executive producer of “Bizarre Foods with Andrew Zimmern” and “Bizarre Foods America” on Travel Channel. He is a contributing editor at Food & Wine magazine, Delta Sky magazine and Mpls.St. Paul Magazine.

Eric ZornEric Zorn is an op-ed columnist at the Chicago Tribune, where he has been on the staff since 1980.